TOMS RIVER, N.J. — It’s no secret that Ocean County is not only the most fun county in New Jersey, new data released by the FBI shows that it is also one of the saest, but two large towns within the county standout as sanctuary from New Jersey’s urban crime centers.
Toms River and Brick stand out among New Jersey’s largest municipalities for low violent crime rates, according to newly reviewed FBI crime data and population estimates.
Both Ocean County communities—each nearing or exceeding the 75,000 population threshold—show consistently lower levels of serious crime compared with similarly sized towns across the state, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data and U.S. Census Bureau figures.
Large-town safety shaped by low violent crime
Among New Jersey municipalities with more than 75,000 residents, only a limited number qualify for direct comparison, making Toms River and Brick notable for maintaining relatively low incident severity based on other towns their size in the state.
Toms River Mayor Rodrick attributes the low crime rate to several factors, including quality policing, education, and the type of residents the community attracts.
“We are the state’s eigth largest city by population, but we have a great education, access to jobs, and everyone who lives here or moved here came here to escape the big cities and other more urban areas,” Rodrick said. “That’s why it’s important that we keep continue fighting as town to keep Toms River from becoming a city and maintain our existing quality of life. That’s what people who live here expect and why we are always rated at the top of the charts each year.”
Toms River, with a population of roughly 95,000, reports violent crime rates estimated between 1.2 and 1.6 incidents per 1,000 residents. Brick, which hovers around the 73,000 to 75,000 range depending on the estimate, shows similar patterns, with violent crime rates generally staying between 1.3 and 1.8 per 1,000 residents.
Property crime—such as theft and burglary—accounts for a larger share of reported incidents in both towns, but remains within ranges typical for suburban areas of comparable size.
According to reports, much of the violent crime in Toms River is domestic related and not random. An incident at the Ocean County Mall involving a gun last month involved out of town gang members bringing their gang related violence to the town. He credited the police department for their quick response and arrests in the matter.
By contrast, other large New Jersey municipalities like Clifton and Hamilton Township report higher combined crime rates, particularly in property-related offenses.
Rodrick said increased numbers of officers on patrol at one time since he took office has also act as a deterrence for property related crimes. In recent years, Toms River has been targeted by statewide vehicle theft syndicates, but since taking office, a major crackdown at the state level, coordinated with local police have seemingly reduced that trend.
Key Points
• Toms River and Brick report lower violent crime rates than many NJ towns over 75,000 residents
• FBI data shows most incidents in both towns are non-violent property crimes
How other large NJ towns compare
Data drawn from the FBI Crime Data Explorer places several Middlesex County municipalities at the top of the safety spectrum for large populations.
Edison Township, with more than 100,000 residents, records some of the lowest violent crime rates in the category—often near or below 1.2 incidents per 1,000 people—while maintaining moderate property crime levels.
Woodbridge Township, also exceeding 100,000 residents, shows similarly stable trends, supported by long-term policing strategies and community programs.
Further down the list, Cherry Hill and Hamilton Township (Mercer County) show moderately higher crime rates, influenced in part by denser commercial corridors and proximity to urban centers.
Brick, while still comparatively safe in terms of violent crime, trends slightly higher in property crime than Toms River, reflecting patterns seen in coastal and retail-heavy communities.
Rodrick said that he will continue to resist the trend by some in politics to turn the town into a city.
“The people have said they don’t want this,” Rodrick said. “And as long I’m mayor, we’re not going to let them turn the town into city. Toms River is one of the safest large towns in New Jersey and we’re going to do whatever it takes to keep it that way.”
What the data actually measures
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program tracks both violent crimes—such as homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault—and property crimes including burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft.
These figures rely on data submitted by local law enforcement agencies and are typically standardized per 1,000 residents to allow comparisons across municipalities.
Population benchmarks, drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau, play a key role in determining which towns qualify as “large,” with the 75,000-resident threshold significantly narrowing the field in New Jersey.
The New Jersey State Police also compile annual “Crime in New Jersey” reports, which break down municipal-level trends and often align with federal data patterns.
Why Ocean County towns stand out
Toms River and Brick’s performance reflects broader suburban crime trends, where violent crime remains relatively rare and most reported incidents involve property.
Local factors—such as residential density, tourism patterns, and commercial development—can influence fluctuations, particularly in property crime categories.
Still, both towns consistently avoid the higher violent crime rates seen in equally populated or urban-adjacent municipalities, helping them rank among the safer options in their population class.
Largest Municipalities in New Jersey (75,000+ Residents – 2026 Estimates)
- Newark (Essex County) – ~307,000
- Jersey City (Hudson County) – ~295,000
- Paterson (Passaic County) – ~160,000
- Elizabeth (Union County) – ~138,000
- Edison Township (Middlesex County) – ~110,000
- Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County) – ~105,000
- Lakewood Township (Ocean County) – ~140,000 (fast-growing, estimate range varies widely)
- Toms River Township (Ocean County) – ~97,000
- Hamilton Township (Mercer County) – ~93,000
- Trenton (Mercer County) – ~91,000
- Clifton (Passaic County) – ~92,000
- Brick Township (Ocean County) – ~77,527
